Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Keep on Swimming

I've been busy this week in many ways. If you haven't had a chance yet, stop by the IWSG site for a great craft article by Jessica Page Morrell on Crutch Words. Also today I wrote a quick post at the A to Z Challenge blog about making sure people know who you are.

Here in the Northeastern States, we've been getting rained on every day for nearly two weeks. I love summer but the weeds are starting to think we're living in a rain forest. Everything is dripping wet all the time and part of my yard looks like a swamp. I even found a lost crayfish in my pool one day. He was alive when I rescued him but I don't know if he made it after I pulled him out and put him back in the swamp.

Beyond all that, we had a plumbing issue in one of the upstairs bathrooms. You know what that means. Water dripping through the first floor ceiling and then all the way into the basement since no one was home at the time of the disaster. Still dealing with that.

But I had lunch with a friend yesterday from my teaching days. We see each other a few times per year and catch up. She's older than me and listened to all my woes as my children were growing up. I love that woman. So that was a high point.

Keep on Swimming
My writing is going well and I love my characters. My children are having good years. Two sons have been promoted at work with better money and good benefits. My daughter is having a great time and Oman. The elite language program only picks 30 college students from across the country to participate and she's at the top of the group in Oman. Her Omani instructors ask her to speak at one of the universities because she is so fluent and able to do questions and answers.

Kelley in Oman

Some days the swamp, the dripping ceiling and the wet carpet try to get me down, I feel like I'm swimming upriver. Then I think of all the wonderful things in my life and I know better. I'm floating on a raft in a warm swimming pool and life is grand.

Did you visit Jessica's post on IWSG? Is your name visible on your blog? What bad luck hit you lately? What are you grateful for recently?

29 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Most enjoyable to read. Sorry about your weather especially as it's summer. Just ordered a TSHIRT for the IWSG. looking forward to that arriving.
I did put my name on the A to Z travel but due to ill health have not yet contacted anyone but am feeling much better now so hope I can contact others on the site.
Yvonne.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. sorry about the plumbing hassles - and yes the States' weather has been odd - ours isn't brilliant at the moment ... but the Brits are good on weather!

Love the photo of Kelley in Oman - she's doing so so well .. congratulations to her ... you must be proud of your kids?! Obviously yes! Cheers Hilary

Scribbles From Jenn said...

What a timely post. Our insurance guy was out this week due to our own plumbing problems. I love Dori's "Keep Swimming" mantra and use it often.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Your daughter obviously has worked hard to be at the top!
Sorry about the water dripping from your ceiling. Hope the plumbing has been fixed.
Feel free to send some rain our way. Maybe it will cool it down to ninety or something.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

You could change your name to Susan, Saver of Crayfish. :)

It's been a rough year, year and half so I'm happy things are finally settling down for us this summer. We're enjoying our new home and getting on a good track. Fingers crossed!

mshatch said...

I hear you about the rain. We've had three solid days of it and the slugs are everywhere. Thankfully, it's sunny today :)

vickyb said...

Keep swimming. Keep swimming... etc. Yeah, I hear you. Sometimes it's all we can do, but you've got a great attitude and that's 99% of the battle. Hugs.

Pat Hatt said...

Ugg, such plumbing issues surely suck. But a lot to be happy about as you swim through your moat haha

Nissa Annakindt said...

I can identify with your plumbing problems, I have chronic ones myself--- it's an old house and can't afford to fix everything.

But it's great to have a friend to talk to about such things. Or so I've been told.

Chrys Fey said...

"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

Now I want to watch Finding Nemo. :P

It's funny how "keep swimming" can be applied to anything. I often tell myself that too when depression and stress is getting me down.

Your daughter deserves a round of applause for her hard work and dedication.

betty said...

So glad to hear your children are doing good; I think when they are doing good, we breathe a bit easier. Sorry for the plumbing woes, not a "fun" thing to deal with, or the wet weather if you want a bit of sunshine . Grateful for waking up every morning; a gift that sometimes I don't think we appreciate as much as we should :)

betty

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I bet your daughter is having the time of her life. What an honor.

We're so dry here that I have almost no weeds in my garden.

Ann Bennett said...

I'm glad you can see the good outweighs the bad. I had a meltdown one time over damage to my plumbing cause by a guy I had paid to replace flooring that rotted under a shower. It was not the end of the world by any means, but I let it get under my skin that morning.

I know it is exciting for your daughter to get that opportunity. Life is good. Except quit hogging all that rain and send some down here. lol

Robin said...

It's been so dry here. We're finally getting some much needed rain. Maybe you can send yours south? Or west? I think they need it out there, too.

Always a good thing to count those blessings. Whenever I'm feeling blue I start saying out loud all the things I appreciate, even if it is Very Small Stuff. It improves my mood. Always.

J E Oneil said...

Oh no! Leaks are the worst. Plus with all the rain, you must be just underwater. I'm totally envious of your daughter's language skills. She must be having so much fun.

Liz Blocker said...

UGH. Constant rain is the worst. I remember we had one June years ago where it literally rained 28 days out of 30. It stunk. I hope it dried up for you soon!!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

That was a good AtoZ post. You have me looking at my blog closely. Thank you. I wish you could tell the rain to come over here in drought-y California. :-) I'm driving though on the AtoZ line.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
Take 25 to Hollister

Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

We are having a dry time in Southern Oregon. I wish you could funnel some of that water and send it our way. My lawn looks like a desert!

The Armchair Squid said...

Great to hear of your daughter's success. Good for her!

Arlee Bird said...

Things have been going smoothly for me and I've had a restful first week of vacation. One of my biggest concerns about leaving our house for so long is having a leak or pipe rupture occur. I have someone watching the house, but for something like that I hope they'd act prudently--but I hope nothing like that ever happens.

Lee
Wrote By Rote

Michelle Wallace said...

Your daughter is rocking Oman!
So sorry about the plumbing issues.
I enjoyed Jessica's IWSG post... now I'm off to the A to Z blog to check out your post.
P.S. I live along the coast... 5 minutes from the beach... literally... you can smell the ocean from where I am.
We have THE best weather... warm sub-tropical climate... yet I STILL can't swim.
Don't ask.
I'm trying to understand it myself. *sigh*

Jo said...

Glad things are going well for the kids if not for you. Those plumbing issues are a real pain. The weather in the States has been really bad lately. Hope things improve.

Cherie Reich said...

That's awesome news about your daughter and sons! Hopefully your area will dry out a bit.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I posted about weather recently too. It seems like everyone is either dripping wet or in a drought and wishing for rain.

Maria Zannini said...

There's nothing more frustrating than house repairs. At least the good news balances out the bad.

Anonymous said...

Sounds quite busy, Susan! I'm sorry to hear about the flooding in your home.... that can be really difficult. :/

It's rainy season here, too, but the worst we've had so far this year is inconveniences like tar splashing up and ruining work clothes. I'm sure typhoon season will be another story, but for now, the rain is keeping it cool, so I can't complain.

Congrats to your children! That's wonderful. :)

Anne Gallagher said...

We're praying for rain in the south east. It's been in the 90's for nearly two weeks. I have no grass or flowers. Sorry about the plumbing issues. I have two leaky faucets that are driving me crazy. The plumber is too busy. What is it with plumbers that always makes them "too busy". Yay, Kelly!

The Happy Whisk said...

You've got a great number of reasons to be thankful.

The plumber issues, ain't no big thang.

Unknown said...

That kind of plumbing problem is nerve-wracking, what with the leakage from the first floor ceiling down the basement and the floods. I hope you’re through dealing with that. Don't let it get in the way of your great writing, Susan.

Traci Romero @ Harris Plumbing